Political tensions and diplomatic concerns prompted Hillery’s decision to decline royal wedding invite

Irish President Patrick Hillery’s decision to decline the invitation to the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 was carefully managed due to the political context of the time and diplomatic considerations.

The royal invitation, addressed to both President Hillery and his wife, arrived with a request for a reply by June 26. The response was complicated by the ongoing political climate, particularly tensions stemming from the recent death of IRA prisoner Bobby Sands following his hunger strike, which had heightened dissatisfaction in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland regarding British policies.

State documents released by the Department of Foreign Affairs reveal internal discussions on how best to handle the refusal. The briefing note suggested that a “diplomatic excuse” would be needed to avoid any potential misinterpretation, both domestically and internationally. There was also concern about how the media would interpret the absence, given the sensitive nature of Anglo-Irish relations at the time.

While it was noted that an invite from a “friendly” country such as the UK would usually warrant a positive response, the document highlighted the risk of “unfavourable comment” should Hillery attend, due to the political tensions surrounding Northern Ireland and British prison policies.

In the end, Ireland’s Ambassador to the UK sent the official reply on June 26, thanking the royals for the invitation but regretfully informing them that President Hillery would not be attending due to “prior commitments.” The ambassador was instructed to attend on behalf of the President, maintaining diplomatic relations without personal involvement.